Ticket-printing apparatus



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(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2. A. R. ABBOTT. TICKET PRINTING APPARATUS.

No. 490.939. Patented Jan. 31, 1893.

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UNTTnn STATES PATENT Ormes.

.ALBERT R. ABBOTT, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

TICKET-PRINTING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 490,939, dated January31, 1893.

Application tiled March 22, 1392. Serial No. 425,919. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom. it muy concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT R. ABBOTT, of Boston, in the county ofSuffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and ImprovedTicket-Printing Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved apparatusfor printing all kinds of tickets, numberingthein consecutively, andcounting a totalof all the tickets issued as well as counting aiotal oteach especial kind issued, the apparatus being more especially designedfor-user on railroads, in steamboat offices, theater ticket ot'iicesttc., to enable the operator to at once print and issue a ticket for anypoint along the line or seat in the theater, duc., and to preserve acomplete record of all the tickets thus issued.

The invention consists of certain parts and details and combinations ofthe same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out inthe claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings `forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure I is a front view of the improvement; Fig. 2 is a transversesection of the saine on the line 2-^2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is aseotionaltront view of the same on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4: is a sectionalplan view of the same on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is an enlargedside elevation of the consecutive numbering mechanism with parts insection; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the wheels ot the saidnumbering mechanism; Fig. '7 is a rear tace view of one of the wheels ofthe consecutive numbering mechanism; and Fig. Sis a transverse sectionof the consecutive numbering mechanism on the line 8--8 of Fig. 5. Fig.9 is an enlarged side elevation of the consecutive bearing mechanism forthe type wheel, part being shown in section; and Fig. l0 is a front viewof the same.

The improved ticket printing apparatus is provided with a suitablyconstucted frame A., in the lower part of which is journaled thetransversely extending shaft B, having its front projecting end reachinginto a casing O, preferably made circular, With an opening the variousseats in the house.

O at the top, as is plainly shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4f.

On the end of the shaft B, within the casing C, is secured a type wheelD, provided in its rim with recesses or pockets D', each carrying a setof type E, for printing an especial ticket.

In case the device is used for printing, for instance, railroad tickets,the sets of types E in the type Wheel D contain the necessary subjectmatter for printing tickets for the various stations along the line. Itthe device is used, for instance,in theaters, the typeE contains subjectmatter for printing tickets for It the device is used for otherpurposes, the sets of types E contain appropriate words and charactersaccording to the especial use for which the tickets are intended.

The wheel D, with its shaft B, is mounted to turn by hand, and for thispurpose the eX- treme front end of the shaft B is provided with a gearWheel B', in mesh with a second gear wheel B2, attached to a shaft B3,journaled in the front plate of the casing C. On the outer end of theshaft B3 is secured a crank arm B47 adapted to be taken hold of by theoperator to turn the said wheel D to bring the desired set of type Einto the top opening O of the casing O.

In order to at once indicate that the desired type is in the top openingO', the front plate of the casing O is marked, as at O2, to indicate thedifferent sets of types in the wheel D, the crank arm B4 being thepointer to indicate on the said marks that the corresponding set of typeis in the top opening O. Forinstance, as shown in Fig. l, the crank armB4 indicates on the Word Season and the type E of the wheel D standingin the opening O is for subject matter to print a season ticket. Thus ifthe crank arm B4 is turned to any of the marks O2, a corresponding setof type E of the Wheel D is brought into the opening O. Directly abovethis opening O and in line with the top set of type E is arranged aplaten F, adapted to move up and down and serving to make the properimpression of the type on the paper to be printed, as hereinafter morefully described. This platen F is secured on the lower end of an arm F',extend- IOO ing upward and pivotally connected with a lever G, fulcrumedat G in a casing A, projecting rearward from the frame A. The lever G ispivotally connected near the arm F with a link G2, connected with thetreadle G3, under the control of the operators foot, so that when thesaid treadle is pressed the lever G swings downward, and consequentlymoves the platen F in the same direction to make the impression on thepaper. A return movement of the lever G and the parts connected with itis obtained by a spring G4, pressing on the under side of the said leverand supported on the frame A, see Fig. 2.

rlhe paper II, to be printed is arranged in a roll held on astud A2secured in the casing A. The paper unwinding from the roll extendshorizontally and forward and between two feed rollers I and I',preferably having serrated peripheries to positively move or feed thepaper. The uppermost feed roller I is provided, on one of its faces,with a gear wheel I2, in mesh with a larger gear wheel I2, journaled inthe casing A and carrying, on one face, a ratchet wheel I4, engaged by apawl IG, held on an arm I5, journaled loosely on the shaft of the gearwheel I3. The arm I5 is also pivotally connected by a link llwith thelever G, so that when the latter is moved downward the pawl I glidesover the teeth of the ratchet wheel I4, while on the return movement ofthe said lever G, the pawl IG turns the ratchet wheel Il, andconsequently the gear wheel I3 which, by meshing into the Agear wheelI2, imparts a rotary motion to the feed roller I', so that the paper IIis fed forward the proper distance. The paper, after leaving the feedrollers I and I, passes under a roller I2, and then extends upward andthrough a slot J in a paperholder J, mounted to slide vertically insuitable guideways in the casing A. A spring J2, presses on the underside of the paper holderJ to hold the same in a normal, uppermostposition, as is plainly shown in Fig. 2. The top of the holder J isadapted to be engaged by an arm F, projecting from the platen F, at therear end thereof, so that when the said platen moves downward the holderJ is carried with it, thus moving the paper held in the said holderin alike direction.

It will be seen by reference to Fig. 2, that when the holder J is in itsnormal, uppermost position, part of the paper extends to the front ofthe said holder, and this part will form the next ticket when themechanism is actuated, as hereinafter more fully described. It will beseen that this ticket part Il, of the paper extends about midway betweenthe top surface of the type E and the platen F, and when the lattermoves downward and actuates the holder J, the latter carries this ticketpart II down over the type E so thata proper impression is made by theplaten F. It will further be seen that when the holder J is in thisposition and the paper is fed forward by the feed rollers I and I, thenthe front end of the paper can readily pass into the empty space betweenthe typeE and platen F, so that a proper unobstructed feeding isobtained.

At the rear face of the type wheel D is arranged a consecutive numberingmechanism K, adapted to print consecutive numbers on the ticket part I-Iof the paper directlyin the rear of the type E. This consecutivenumbering device K is supported on the main frame A, and is providedwith a series of numbering wheels K K2, K3, K4, K5 and K6, each formedon its periphery with raised numerals arranged consecutively from O to9. The top numerals of the several wheels are arranged to extend to thesame height as does the type E of the uppermost set of type in the typewheel D. The several wheels K, I2, K3, Ki, K5 and K6, are mounted toturn loosely on a shaft K7, mounted to turn in suitable bearingsarranged in the main frame A. 'lhe numbering wheel K is the units wheel,I2 the tens wheel, K3 the hundreds wheel, K1 the thousands wheel, K5 thetens of thousands, and KG the hundreds of thousands. It will be readilyunderstood that the number of wheels may be increased to print millionsand higher numerals.

On the outer face of the units wheel K is lformed or secured a ratchetwheel K2, en-

gaged by a spring pawl N, attached to a bar N', mounted to slidevertically in suitable bearings arranged on the main framev A, see Figs.2 and 5. On the lower end of the bar N presses a spring N2, to hold thesaid bar in an uppermost position. The upper end of the said bar is inthe path of a lug F2, projecting from the under side of the platen F, sothat when the latter moves downward its lug F2 presses the bar N in thesame direction, whereby the pawl N glides over the next tooth of theratchet wheel KS, and when the platen F moves upward the spring N2forces the bar N in the same direction, whereby the pawl N moves theratchet wheel the distance of one tooth, thus shifting the units wheel Kto the next numeral.

In order to operate the tens from the units wheel, and the hundredswheel from the tens wheel, and so on with the several wheels, at everyrevolution of the preceding wheel, the following device is providedg-Onthe inner face of each of the wheels is secured a radially extendingspring arm O, formed at its upper end with a V-shaped tooth O', adaptedto engage a toothed wheel K", formed on the opposite face of the nextfollowing wheel. The spring arm O is adapted to travel during ninetenthsof the revolution of the wheel, which carries it on a segmental rim Olofa wheel O2, secured on the shaft K7. The remaining onetenth part of thesaid wheel, between the ends of the rim O", forms a recess O2, intowhich drops the upper end of the spring arm O, so that its tooth O canengage teeth on the wheel K. Thus, during nine-tenths of the revolutionof the units wheel, for instance, the spring armO is held with its toothO out ICO IIO

of engagement with the teeth of the wheel K9, so that the tens wheel K2remains stationary. As soon as the spring arm O passes over the end ofthe rim O4 into the notch O2 its tooth O' engages the wheel K9, andduring one-tenth of the revolution of the units wheel the tens wheel K2is rotated with it, so that the next numeral is brought on the top ofthe tens wheel. On the further rotation of the units wheel the springarm O again travels up the slightly inclined end O5 of the rim O4, so asto move the tooth Oout of mesh with the wheel K5. The above describedconstruction and operation are the same for every one of the Wheels inthe series, so that further description is not deemed necessary. As thetop numerals of the several wheels K', K2, K2, K4, K5 and K5, stand inline with the top surfaces of the type E in the opening C', a numeralwill be printed on the ticket part II' of the paper when the impressionis made. On the return movement of the platen F, the consecutivenumbering mechanism is actuated as above described, so that the nextfollowing numeral is brought on top, and the next ticket printed bearsthe numeral following that on the preceding ticket. In the rear of thisconsecutive numbering mechanism K is arranged a dating mechanism L,comprising a number of wheels L', L2, L2 and L4, mounted to turn on ashaft L5, and shifted by the operator so as to bring the wheels in theproper position for printing the 'proper date on the ticket. For thispurpose the wheel L' is formed on its periphery with type charactersindicating the different months in the year, while the wheel L2contains, on its periphery, type characters corresponding to theconsecutive days in the month, While the wheel L2islikewise provided onits periphery with characters indicating the years, and the front wheelL4 is formed with characters indicating any especial mark desired to beprinted on the ticket. As previously mentioned the several wheels L',L2, L3 and L4, are shifted by hand, so as to bring the desiredcharacters on top.

By reference to Fig. 2 it will readily beseen that the dating mechanismL is located in front of the paper holder J and below the rear end ofthe platen F, so that when the ticket is printed the type E will printthe subject matter with the station, seat, or other matter onto theticket, while the consecutive numbering mechanism K will number theticket, and the dating mechanism L will print the corresponding date onwhich the ticket is issued, on the ticket.

In order to count the entire number of tickets issued a countingmechanism P, is provided, similar in construction to the consecutivenumbering mechanism K, the said total counting mechanism P beingprovided with a units, a tens, a hundreds, a thousands wheel, &C.,andalso with mechanism for shifting the individual wheels as describedabove in reference to the consecutive numbering mechanism K, and asillustrated in Figs. 5, G,

7 and 8. The units wheel P of this total counting mechanism is providedwith a ratchet wheel P2, engaged by a pawl P3 held on a bar P4, mountedto slide vertically and pivotally connected at its upper end with thelever G, so that when the latter moves down-A ward the bar P4 moves inthe same direction and the pawl P2 turns the ratchet wheel P2 to shiftthe counting mechanism, as is readily understood. The numerals of thewheels P' indicating the total number of tickets issued appear through aslot A2, formed in one side of the casing A', as is indicated in Fig.ai.

In order to properly ink the type E in the top opening of the casing C,as well as the top numerals of the consecutive numbering mechanism K andalso the type characters of the wheels L', L2, L5 and L4 of the datingmechanism L, an inking mechanism Q is provided, constructed asfollowsz-An inking roller Q', is journaled in the ends of an inkfountain Q2, delivering the necessary amount of ink to the said inkingroller. The inking roller Q when in its normal position, as shown inFigs. 3 and 4, rests on the casing C at one side of the opening C', andthe said inking roller is adapted to travel to the right over the type,previous to the ticket part H' of the paper I-I passing into a lowermostposition,

being carried there by the holder J, as before explained. The roller Qremains in this position ou the right hand side of thel opening C untila second ticket is to be printed. The fountain Q2 is provided with armsQ5, pivotally connected with disks Q4, secured on a transverselyextending shaft Q5, mounted to turn in suitable bearings attached to thecasing C, as will be readily understood by reference to Figs. 3 and 1i.On the shaft Q5 is secured a gear wheel Q5, in mesh with a second gearwheel Q7, also journaled in bearings attached to the casing C. The gearwheel Q7 is engaged by a spring pressed pawl Q5, pivoted on the rod G2connected with the lever G, so that when the treadle G3 is pressed, asbefore described, the said pawl Q8 imparts a rotary motion to the gearwheel Q7, whereby the gear wheel Q5 and the shaft Q5 are given one halfrevolution, thus imparting a like motion to the disks Q4 so that thearms Q3 move the inking roller Q' forward over the type and typecharacters for one ticket, previous to the paper moving downward asbefore explained.

In order to disconnect the pawl Q8 from the gear wheel Q7, after thedisks Q4 have made a half revolution, the said pawl comes in contact, onits downward motion, with a pin Q9, projecting from an arm secured tothe casing A', see Figs. 3 and 1t. Thus, when the half revolution of thedisks Q4 has been completed, the pawl Q8 comes in contact on thedownward movement of the rod G with the said fixed pin. Q9, and is thusthrown out of mesh with the gear wheel Qlso that a further rotation ofthe latter, as well as the disks Q5, is prevented. The pawl Q8 now movesfarther downward with the rod or link G2, and on the IOO IXO

return movement of the latter glides over the teeth of the gear wheel Q7to be ready to actuate the inking mechanism at the next downwardmovement of the rod G2. Then this takes place the roller Q is moved overthe type to ink the same and back into the position shown in Fig. 3.

In order to count the number of individual tickets printed by any oneset of type E, a counting mechanism R is provided, similar inconstruction to the numbering mechanism K and the total countingmechanism P. Individual counting mechanisms R are arranged in the wheelD below each corresponding set of type E, and each of these mechanisms(shown in detail in Figs. 9 and l0) is provided with units, tens,hundreds, thousands, die., wheels connected with each other by themechanism previously described in reference to the consecutive numberingmechanism K and shown in Figs. 5, G, 7 and S. The units wheel R of thiscounting mechanism is provided with a ratchet wheel R2, engaged by apawl R3, held on abar R4, mounted to slide in suitabie bearings in thetype wheel D. rlhe upper end of each bar R1 is adapted to project intothe path of a lug FS, on the platen F whenever the corresponding type Eis in the opening C in the top of the casing C. A spring R5, held on thesaid bar R4 serves to move the latter into an outermost normal position.Now, when the platen F moves downward then the lug F3 engages the bar Rlof that counting mechanism, the type of which is on the top ot' thewheel D, so that the said bar is pressed downward and its pawl R3 glidesover the teeth of the ratchet wheel R2. lVhen the platen F moves upward,the spring R5 moves the bar R4 hack into an uppermost position, and bydoing so the pawl acts on the ratchet wheel R2 so as to turn the unitswheel R and the other mechanism, as the case may be, to count the ticketprinted on the corresponding type E.

On the rear end of the platen F is arranged a longitudinally extendingknife S, adapted to cut thel ticket H in front of the holder J wheneverthe platen F makes the impression. The knife S does not extend theentire length across the ticket part H so that the latter is notentirely cut oif from the paper, and consequently the ticket, afterbeing printed, moves upward with the paper in the holderJ so that 4theticket is carried up away from the type and type characters and isshoved outward to the front by the next forward feeding of the paper Hon the upward stroke of the lever G, as previously described.

The operation is as follows z-When the several parts are in the positionshown in the drawings and the operator desires to print, for instance, arailroad ticket to the destination Louisville, he first takes hold ofthe crank arm B4 and moves the same to the mark C2 bearing the nameLouisville,7 see Fig. l. ly turning the crank arm B4 the type wheel D isrotated so that the corresponding type E representing the subject matterfor a ticket to Louisville is in the top opening C of the casing C. Theoperator now presses, with his foot, on the treadle Gi", so that thelink G2, the lever G, and the plate F move downward, whereby the inkingroller Q is first moved forward and backward over the type, after whichthe paper holder J is pressed downward to move the ticket part II overthe type characters, and then, when the platen F isin a lowermostposition, the operator strikes a blow on the arm F so that the saidplaten F causes an impression to be made on the ticket part H', the typeE, as well as the dating mechanism L and the consecutive numberingmechanism K, printing their corresponding type characters on theunderside of the ticket part II and thus making a ticket. At the sametime the knife S cuts the ticket partly oif in front ot' the holder J.The total numbering mechanism P is actuated on the downward movement ofthe lever G to register the ticket, and in a like manner the countingmechanism R is actuated to register the ticket made by the individualtype E from which the body of the ticket was printed. As soon as theoperator releases the pressure on the treadle G3 the spring Gr4 movesthe lever G and the platen F back to their normal positions, and at thesame time the spring J2 returns the holder J to an uppermost position,and the feed rollers I and I feed the paper H forward, so that theprinted ticket projects beyond the front of the casing C and can bereadily detached from the rest of the paper of which the part Hprojecting in front of the holder J will form the next ticket to beprinted.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent:-

l. In a ticket printing apparatus, the combination with a type wheelcarrying in its periphery sets of type for printing various tickets anda counting mechanism arranged one for each set of type in the saidwheel, to count the individual sets of tickets printed by each set oftype, of a platen moving toward and from the said sets ot type to makethe impression and to actuate the said counting mechanism, aspring-pressed paper holder mounted to slide and formed with a slotthrough which passes the paper,the said holder being actuated by andmoving with the said platen to bring the paper over the said typeprevious to the platen making the impression, an inking mechanism forinking the type previous to the downward movement of the said paperholder, and a paper feeding mechanism for moving the paper through theslot in the said holder and into the space between the type and platen,substantially as shown and described.

2. In a printing mechanism, the combination with a type wheel carryingin its periphery sets of type for printing the various tickets, andcounting mechanisms arranged one IOO IIO

for each set of type in the said Wheel to count the individual sets oftickets printed by each set of type, of a consecutive numbering andprinting mechanism arranged neXt to the said wheel and having itsuppermost type in line 4with the uppermost set of type in the saidwheel, a platen moving toward and from the said sets ot type to make theimpression, the said platenbein g also arranged to actuate the saidconsecutive numbering mechanisms and the said counting mechanisms, aspringpressed paper holder mounted to slide and formed with a slotthrough which passes the paper, the said holder being actuated by andmoving with the said platen to bring the paper over the said typeprevious to the platen making the impression, an inking mechanism forinking the said type and the consecutive numbering mechanism previous tothe downward movement of the said paper holder, and a paper feedingmechanism for moving the paper through the slot in the said holder andinto the space between the platen and the type and consecutive numberingand printing mechanism, substantially as shown and described. y

3. A ticket printing apparatus provided with a platen and a paper holderformed with a slot through which passes the paper, the said holder beingpressed by a spring and mounted to slide and actuated from the platen,substantially as shown and described.

4t. In a ticket printing apparatus, the combination with a movableplaten, and a type Wheel containing sets of type on which the platenmakes an impression, of a paper holder formed with a slot through whichpasses the paper, the said holder being spring pressed and mounted toslide and adapted to be pressed by the said platen at the time thelatter moves downward to make the impression, substantially'as shown anddescribed.

5. In a ticket printing apparatus, a type wheel provided with sets oftype, a plate adapted to be moved toward and from the said type, a levercarrying the said plate, a link connected with a treadle and with thesaid lever for actuating the latter, in combination with an inkingmechanism comprising a roller adapted to travel over the type in thesaid type Wheel, arms carrying the said roller, disks pivotallyconnected with the said arms, a shaft carrying the said disks, gearwheels for rotating the said shaft, a pawl engaging onefof the said gearwheels and pivoted on the said link, and a fixed pin adapted to engagethe said pawl to throw the latter out of engagement with thecorresponding gear wheel, substantially as shown and described.

6. In a ticket printing apparatus, an inking device comprising a rollerfor inking the type, arms in which the said roller is journaled, crank'disks pivotally connected with the said arms, a shaft carrying the saiddisks and provided with a gear wheel, a second gear Wheel in mesh withthe said first named gear Wheel, and a spring pressed paWl mounted totravel and engaging the said second gear wheel, substantially as shownand described.

7. In a ticket printing apparatus, an inking device comprising a rollerfor inking the type, arms in which the said roller is journaled, crankdisks pivotally connected with the said arms, a shaft carrying the saiddisks and provided with a gear wheel, a second gear wheel in mesh withthe said iirst named gear wheel, a spring pressed pawl mounted to traveland engaging the said second gear Wheel, and a liked pin for throwingthe said pawl out of mesh with the said second gear wheel, substantiallyas shown and described.

ALBERT R. ABBOTT.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH FULLER, Trios. H. HASKELL.

